2014 MOC: PQRS and the MOC Matters Website
Visit the MOC Matters Website to fulfill and document your 2014 MOC and PQRS requirements. It consists of the MOC: PQRS Attestation Module, the PQRS Registry Module and the Patient Experience of Care Survey Module. As an added feature, the freestanding Patient Survey Module is available to diplomates of all Member Boards, whether or not the diplomates are participating in MOC:PQRS. The Website also includes an updated MOC:PQRS Facts & FAQs.Click to find PDFs.

Approved MOC Products

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The purpose of the ABPN’s initial certification examination is to test the qualifications of candidates in psychosomatic medicine. Psychosomatic medicine entails subspecialization in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders and symptoms in complex medically ill patients. This subspecialty includes treatment of patients with acute or chronic medical, neurological, obstetrical or surgical illness in which psychiatric illness is affecting their medical care and/or quality of life such as HIV infection, organ transplantation, heart disease, renal failure, cancer, stroke, traumatic brain injury, high-risk pregnancy and COPD, among others. Patients also may be those who have a psychiatric disorder that is the direct consequence of a primary medical condition, or a somatoform disorder or psychological factors affecting a general medical condition. Psychiatrists specializing in Psychosomatic Medicine provide consultation-liaison services in general medical hospitals, attend on medical psychiatry inpatient units, and provide collaborative care in primary care and other outpatient settings.

New Certification Information
• Effective January 1, 2012, ABPN will require a physician to become Board certified within seven years following successful completion of ACGME-accredited or ABPN approved residency training in their primary specialty or ACGME accredited subspecialty.
• Graduates can take the ABPN Certification Examination as many times as allowed during the 7-year period.
• Individuals who have completed an accredited residency program prior to January 1, 2012 will have until January 1, 2019 to become board certified.
• Individuals who do not become certified during the 7-year period (or before January 1, 2019 for those who completed residency training before January 1, 2012) will be required to (1) repeat the required clinical skills evaluations; and (2) complete one stage of MOC (90 CME credits, 24 self-assessment CME credits, and 1 PIP Unit that includes a clinical and feedback module) in order to be credentialed to take the ABPN Certification Examination.

A. History and Statement of Principles
The ABPN, in concurrence with the ABMS, established a Committee on Certification in the Subspecialty of Psychosomatic Medicine in 2003. This was done to officially establish the field of psychosomatic medicine as a definite area of subspecialization in psychiatry and to provide a means of identifying properly trained and experienced psychosomatic medicine subspecialists.

The actual mechanics of certification of qualified candidates have been delegated by the Board to the Committee, which operates under the supervision of and in accordance with the policies of the Board.

B. Specific Requirements During the “Grandfathering Period” (Through 2009)Please Note: This is a brief summary of training requirements and not intended to be all inclusive. Read the current Information for Applicants publication for all requirements for Initial Certification in Psychosomatic Medicine.

Applicants for certification in psychosomatic medicine must be certified by the Board in general psychiatry by December 31 of the year prior to the examination administration.

Applicants may qualify for examination by submitting documentation of successful completion of one year of ACGME-accredited fellowship training in psychosomatic medicine that did not begin before the time general residency training in psychiatry, including time spent in combined training programs, was completed. The exposure to psychosomatic medicine given to psychiatry residents as part of their basic psychiatry curriculum does not count toward the one year of training.

During the “grandfathering period,” as an alternative to one year of ACGME-accredited fellowship training in psychosomatic medicine, applicants may qualify by submitting documentation of one of the following two sets of temporary criteria:

•1. Satisfactory completion of 12 months of fellowship training in psychosomatic medicine (consultation/liaison psychiatry) that did not begin before the time general residency training in psychiatry, including time spent in combined training programs, was completed. The exposure to psychosomatic medicine given to psychiatry residents as part of their basic psychiatry curriculum does not count toward the one year of training. Training must be completed by July 31 of the year prior to the examination.

OR

•2. A minimum of 25% of practice time devoted to psychosomatic medicine (consultation/liaison psychiatry) for a minimum of two years.

The specialized training in psychosomatic medicine may be completed on a part-time basis as long as it is not less than half time; credit is not given for periods of training lasting less than one year except under special circumstances that must be approved by the ABPN Credentials Committee. In such cases, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide detailed documentation from the respective training directors outlining training content, duties, and responsibilities. Each case is considered on an individual basis.

C. Specific Training Requirements After 2009Please Note: This is a brief summary of training requirements and not intended to be all inclusive. Read the current Information for Applicants publication for all requirements for Initial Certification in Psychosomatic Medicine.

Applicants for certification in psychosomatic medicine must be certified by the Board in general psychiatry by December 31 of the year prior to the examination administration. After the 2009 examination, all applicants other than those initially approved during the “grandfathering period” are required to submit documentation of successful completion of one year of ACGME-accredited fellowship training in psychosomatic medicine that did not begin before the time general residency training in psychiatry, including time spent in combined training programs, was completed. The exposure to psychosomatic medicine given to psychiatry residents as part of their basic psychiatry curriculum does not count toward the one year of training. All licensing and training must be met by July 31 of the year of the examination.

The required one year of specialized training in psychosomatic medicine may be completed on a part-time basis as long as it is not less than half time; credit is not given for periods of training lasting less than one year except under special circumstances that must be approved by the ABPN Credentials Committee. In such cases, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide detailed documentation from the respective training directors outlining training content, duties, and responsibilities. Each case is considered on an individual basis.